Culvert.



No, 722,396. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

F. s. & F. H. BEACH.

OULVERT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1902.

no MODEL;

INVENTORS.

m: uoams PErzns ca. vnoYo-Lfi'rlu, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED S. BEACH AND FITZHUGH H. BEACH, OF LYONS, MICHIGAN.

CU LVERT.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,396, dated March 10, 1903. Application filed July 16, 1902. Serial No. 115,838. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRED S. BEACH and FITZHUGH H. BEACH, residing at Lyons, in the county of Ionia and State of Michigan, have invented oertain new and useful Improvements in Culverts; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to metallic culverts; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a culvert constructed according to this invention. Fig.2 is a cross-section through the culvert. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of one of the culvert-plates.

A represents curved plates of cast or wrought metal or steel, each .having a series of lugs b at its side edges. These plates are all similar to each other, but are preferably made of three different lengths. Each plate has the lugs 12 on one edge arranged intermediate of the lugs on its other edge, and the lugs of the adjacent plates interlock with each other when three plates are arranged in triangular form. Each plate is provided with inclined strengthening-ribs c on its back, which extend to the ends of the lugs. The plates may have corrugations instead of ribs 0. The plates may also be strengthened by angle-bars e, arranged either longitudinally or laterally and secured to the plates in any approved manner. The plates are preferably one foot, two feet, and three feet in length and are arranged so as to break joints.

In laying a culvert a ditch is first dug where the culvert is to be formed. Enough long plates are then laid end to end at the bottom of this ditch. The culvert is formed from one end by placing a two-foot plate on one side and a one-foot plate on the other side.

These plates are interlocked with each other and with the end bottom plate. Long plates are then placed in position on each side, and the culvert is finished with a one-foot plate and a two-foot plate at its other end. The ditch is then filled in over the culvert.

No bolts are requiredand the plates can be dug up and relaid, if desired. The iron plates cannot wash out, as their ribs engage with the soil, and when water in the culvert becomes frozen solid the culvert is not broken, as the lugs permit the plates to be temporarily forced apart by the expansion of the freezing water.

What we claim is- 1. In a culvert, the combination, of three interchangeable plates arranged in triangular form and provided with interlocking lugs at their edges and strengthening-ribs on their backs, substantially as set forth.

2. In a culvert, the combination, of plates provided with interlocking lugs at their sides and strengthening-ribs extending along the backs of the said lugs, said plates being arranged in triangular form, substantially as set forth.

3. ha culvert, the combination, of plates provided with interlocking lugs at their sides arranged out of line with each other and having inclined strengthening-ribs on their backs which extend down the backs of the said lugs fromone side to the other, said plates being arranged in triangular form, substantially as set forth.

4. A culvert-plate curved from side to side and having a series of lugs on each straight side edge, said lugs being arranged out of line with each other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

1 FRED S. BEACH.

FITZHUGH II. BEACH.

Witnesses: v

E. S. FULLER, L. E. MORSE. 

